Office politics occur in every workplace, office or not. There is always one person, sometimes more than one, who cannot resist sharing (or making up) the latest personal or front office drama.
We all know this person in some form or another. She comes to your desk to dish on the latest juicy gossip about a boss or co-worker. Every rampant rumor is joyfully shared by this person. He "is in the know" about what is going on with everyone.
Except that he or she is usually wrong.
How can you not get swept up in the mess? Here are four tips that can help:
Avoid it altogether.
If you can, simply stay away from office politics as much as you are able. Do not encourage the people who love spreading gossip at work. In fact, try not to interact with them other than for work-related tasks. If you are not party to the latest in the rumor mill, you don't run the risk of sharing false information with others.
If you get involved, be honest.
Sometimes, as hard as you try, staying out of the local gossip circle is tough. If you do get an earful of gossip, or share it, be honest about your involvement and your sources. When you absolutely have to share a tidbit, make sure you tell the person that it is rumor, not fact. Tell the person where you heard the information and whether you trust the source.
Refuse gossip when it is presented to you.
When the office gossip comes to you with the latest, tell him or her that you aren't interested. Stand up and say that you don't get involved in rumor and speculation, that it makes you uncomfortable. If the person continues, tune them out to the best of your ability. Should this person be so persistent that it affects your ability to do your job, report them to management, per the chain of command.
Let the gossip stop with you.
If a juicy bit of hearsay comes to your attention, do everything in your power to keep it to yourself. Do not be one to share everything you hear. Let the gossip stop with you. Break the chain.
Taking an active role in office politics can have a long-term negative effect on your reputation. Even if you change jobs, former co-workers and employers may let it be known that you are "a troublemaker." Not in so many words, of course, but that sort of reputation can still damage your chances for advancement.
Be trustworthy and avoid gossip. Doing so will pay off in ways you can't even imagine. And you will like yourself better for it.
